John D. Billings, The history of the Tenth Massachusetts battery of light artillery in the war of the rebellion

[249] sent down to the left to relieve Ricketts' Battery. Meanwhile we could not fail to notice that matters did not seem to be working satisfactorily. Anxiety was perceptible on the faces of all general officers, and was further betrayed by the frequent marchings and counter-marchings from point to point. The cause of all this uneasiness seems to have been due to the position occupied by the army with respect to the enemy, which was substantially as follows:—Gen. Warren's Fifth Corps had crossed the river at Jericho Ford, four miles above us, without opposition, and, having advanced some distance, repelled an assault from Hill's corps and established his lines, correspondingly forcing back Lee's left. By reason of the advance of the Second Corps across the river, Lee drew back his right to cover Hanover Junction, still clinging with his centre to the river. His army was thus in the form of a V, the apex resting on the river. Thus situated, he could promptly reinforce any portion of his line that was threatened. When, therefore, Burnside attempted to cross at a point midway between Hancock and Warren, he was repulsed. The situation was now a critical one, for Lee's position was not only invulnerable, but by rapid concentration he could fall upon either of our flanks before assistance could reach it. This was sufficient cause for the anxiety that was so universal. Nothing, we now believe, but Lee's inferior force could have prevented him from executing this maneuver.

We spent all of Wednesday and Thursday, the 25th and 26th, here, and in the evening of the latter, at 10 o'clock, recrossed the river, on a pontoon constructed below the bridge, going into camp in breastworks near the captured redan. We were preparing for another move, for Grant, having decided